Loading...
Attack with Power and Precision
Hitting
Hitting is how you score points. The approach, the jump, the arm swing, and the shot selection all work together to turn a set into a kill. Power matters, but so does placement and timing.
Attack with Power and Precision
Hitting is how you score points. The approach, the jump, the arm swing, and the shot selection all work together to turn a set into a kill. Power matters, but so does placement and timing.
Hitting (also called spiking or attacking) is an attacking motion where you swing your arm over the top of the ball, to hopefully score a point. You take an approach, jump as high as you can, and swing at the ball with the intent of putting it on the floor on the other side. It is the most exciting skill in volleyball and the primary way teams earn points.
But hitting is not just swinging hard. The best attackers combine power with placement, read the block in the air, and choose the right shot for the situation. A well-placed roll shot scores just as surely as a hard fast spike.
The approach converts your horizontal running speed into vertical jumping height. Without a good approach, you lose both power and elevation.
The most common taught approach when beginning volleyball (middle attacks, quick tempo sets, tight spaces):
For a right-handed hitter attacking from the left side:
The last two steps are the most important. They should be quick, explosive, and together. Think "big-close" or "brake and jump." Your arms swing back as your feet plant, then drive forward and up as you leave the ground.
Middles almost exclusively use three-step approaches because they need to be fast and compact.
Attack from outside-in. If you are hitting from the left pin, start your approach from outside the court and move toward the ball at an angle. This opens up the entire cross-court and gives you vision of the block.
If you approach parallel to the net, you can only hit in one direction and the block knows exactly where you are going.
As you jump, both arms drive upward. At the peak, your hitting arm draws back (almost like you're drawing a bow & arrow, keep the elbow high, hand near your ear) while your non-hitting arm reaches up toward the ball, which helps with guaging where the ball is. Your hips, torso and shoulders rotate open, loading your core like a spring.
The power sequence: hips rotate first, then torso, then shoulder, then elbow, then wrist. This is the kinetic chain. Each segment accelerates the next. If you skip a link (just swinging from the shoulder), you lose significant power and could also cause injuries to your shoulder and elbow over time.
Contact: Hit the ball at full arm extension, slightly in front of your hitting shoulder. Your hand is open, fingers spread, wrapping over the top of the ball. Contact with your entire hand leaning more towards your palm and snap your wrist over to create topspin.
Topspin: Wrist snap over the ball pulls it down into the court. Without topspin, a hard-hit ball travels in a straight line and often sails out. Topspin lets you hit with full power and still keep the ball inside the lines.
After contact, your arm continues its natural arc downward. Do not stop your swing at contact. A full follow-through ensures you transfer maximum energy to the ball and reduces shoulder stress.
The block dictates your shot. Before you even leave the ground, you should have a plan. In the air, you confirm or adjust based on what you see.
Full arm swing across your body, hitting the ball toward the far corner of the opposite court. The longest diagonal gives you the most court to hit into and the best margin for error.
Hit straight down the sideline, past the outside blocker's hands. Requires you to turn your shoulders and contact the ball slightly more to the outside. Less margin (shorter court distance), but harder to defend if the block does not cover it.
An extreme cross-court shot that lands near the 3-meter line on the opposite side. Requires wrist snap and contact on the outside of the ball. Hard for defenders to cover because it lands in front of them.
An off-speed shot that clears the block and drops into open space behind it. Use an open hand to push or roll the ball softly over the block into the deep corners or short zones. Essential when facing a big, well-formed block.
Intentionally hit the ball off the blocker's hands and out of bounds. Aim for the outside edge of the outside blocker's hands. The ball deflects sideways and out, scoring a kill even when the block is "up." This is one of the most important advanced skills for hitters.
Timing is the relationship between when you start your approach and when the ball arrives at your hitting zone.
Too early: You reach the peak of your jump before the ball arrives. You are on the way down when you contact it. Loss of power and height.
Too late: The ball passes your hitting zone before you reach full extension. You swing while still going up, or you have to reach behind you. Weak contact.
Just right: You arrive at the peak of your jump at the exact moment the ball enters your hitting window. Full extension, full power, full vision of the block.
Timing changes based on set tempo:
Standard four-step approach from the left antenna area. Broadest range of shots available. Usually receives the most sets and is the primary out-of-system bail-out option. Read more about the outside hitter position.
Approaches from the right antenna area. For right-handed opposites, the cross-court swing goes left. Footwork mirrors the outside attack. Often hits higher, faster sets because the setter is close. Read more about the opposite hitter position.
Three-step approach, primarily hits quick (first-tempo) sets directly in front of or behind the setter. Speed and timing matter more than raw power. Reads and slides (one-foot jumps for lateral attacks) are the middle's bread and butter. Read more about the middle blocker position.
Attackers in the back row (zones 1, 5, 6) can attack as long as they jump from behind the 3-meter line. The approach is similar but starts farther from the net. You jump from behind the line and land in front of it (legal). Pipes and Bics are the most common back-row attack sets.
Approaching too close to the net: If you end up under the ball, you cannot swing down into the court. Keep distance so you can swing at full extension in front of you.
Straight-on approach angle: Approaching perpendicular to the net limits your shot options to one direction. Attack from an angle.
Dropping the elbow: A low elbow means less power and contact below the top of the ball. Keep your elbow at ear height or above during the draw-back.
No topspin: Hitting flat means the ball often sails out. Snap your wrist over the ball to bring it down.
One-dimensional: Hitters who only swing hard become predictable. Develop tips, roll shots, and the ability to wipe the block.
Swinging before looking: Some hitters close their eyes or commit to a shot before seeing the block. Train yourself to look at the block in the air and make a decision.
Approach footwork: Practice your approach without a ball. Focus on the rhythm (slow-slow-fast-fast), the arm swing timing, and jumping off both feet. Do 50 approaches a day until the pattern is automatic.
Hitting lines: Traditional drill where a setter delivers sets and hitters approach and swing. Focus on one shot at a time: 10 cross-court, 10 line, 10 tips.
Wall hitting: Stand close to a wall and practice your arm swing mechanics, contacting a ball into the wall at full speed. Builds wrist snap and contact point awareness without needing a full court.
Hitting against a block: Have two blockers set up and practice reading them. If they are outside, hit inside. If they split, hit between them. If they are solid, tool them or tip behind.
Film study: Watch yourself on video. Check your approach angle, contact point height, and arm swing path. Small mechanical fixes are often invisible to you without video.
When watching hitters at any level:
Common Questions